Cool heads must prevail
The government should tread extreme carefully in its handling of Saturday’s political protests by young students at Democracy Monument in Phra Nakhon district and in the provinces. In a challenge to the emergency decree, these were the first major gatherings since the coronavirus hit the country in March.
Political observers branded Saturday’s events as just the latest action by a group known as the “flash mob” given its loosely organised nature, which is led by a student group, “Free Youth” and the Students Federation of Thailand. Several of its leaders have no experience in organising such rallies.
The organisers called off the Bangkok demonstration at about midnight after skirmishes with the police but vowed a repeat in two weeks. The early finish might make those in power underestimate these young souls. They shouldn’t. Their demands are rock solid: stop intimidating the people, keep faith with the charter amendment which appears to have stagnated, and dissolve the House.
It must be said, the government’s refusal to lift the emergency decree has caused public frustrations.
The past few months have witnessed the use — or abuse — of the decree by police and security officers against political activists or members of the general public who have done no more than carry out peaceful campaigns. They include those who turned up at the Cambodian embassy calling for the Hun Sen government to help find the kidnapped activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit.
The most recent misuse of power saw police charge two young men for holding placards criticising the government for loopholes in the anti-coronavirus measures that allowed an Egyptian airman, who tested positive for the disease, to breach movement restrictions. This put the whole of Rayong at risk of a Covid19 surge and damaged the province’s tourism industry as tourists took fright and cancelled their trips.
One student at Saturday’s rally made a good point: If they are not with the government, whatever they do will always be deemed wrong.
Police have now declared they will charge the rally leaders. Such an overreaction could fuel students’ anger, just as those in the provinces are preparing for another rally.
The political mercury is heating up at the very time Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is caught up in a power struggle with the ruling party. Worse, the Covid19 risk still hangs over everyone.
The next two weeks should be an interesting time in Thai politics. The government would be well advised to heed the students’ demands. A counter-rally is being organised and that could lead to a dangerous confrontation.
Constructive dialogue would be the wisest option and any type of provocation avoided. At the very least, the government should respond positively to demands for charter amendment.
Gen Prayut may not agree. He thinks students should concentrate on their classroom studies and stay out of politics. Such a view is archaic. The country needs engaged citizens and students can be a force for good.
Nor should the prime minister forget Thailand’s past political upheavals, like those in 1973 and 1992, which saw the collapse of military regimes. They started with exactly these kinds of small steps by students and ordinary people, whose calls for change had been dismissed.